A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

June 8, 2007

Dear Friends,                              

The Senate continued debate this week on the number one domestic issue facing our nation: illegal immigration.  Throughout the debate, Senator Chambliss and I said we would reserve judgment on the final bill until deliberations were complete. In the meantime, we pledged to work to make the bill even stronger.  However, the version of the bill presented to us on Thursday was not good enough yet for the people of Georgia. We will continue our efforts, because it is absolutely critical to our state and this nation that we secure the borders and restore credibility to our immigration system.

Senator Chambliss and I participated in drafting sections of this year’s immigration reform legislation to ensure that the new Democratic-controlled Congress would not duplicate last year’s immigration bill, which would have granted amnesty without securing our borders. That’s exactly what Congress did in 1986, when Congress granted amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants but failed to secure the border. Our nation has been paying the price ever since.

I was pleased that the immigration bill that came to the floor contained my border security “trigger,” prohibiting implementation of a temporary, probationary work permit program until the Department of Homeland Security certifies to the President and to the Congress that the border security provisions in the immigration legislation are fully funded and operational. However, the Democratic leader refused to allow votes on amendments that would have strengthened the bill..

Among the critical initiatives Senator Chambliss and I supported but were not allowed up or down votes were an amendment mandating spending for border security as well as an amendment to require illegal immigrants to return home in order to participate in the Z visa program.

Therefore, Senator Chambliss and I helped defeat a procedural motion to cut off debate on the immigration bill yesterday and we vowed to ensure that the principles of Georgians are contained in any immigration bill before the Senate. The procedural motion failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

Sweet Georgia Vidalia Onions

Senator Chambliss and I also had the opportunity to distribute to our Washington colleagues something that we are very proud of – our Georgia sweet Vidalia onions.  We helped unload more than 2,000 pounds of the famous Georgia-grown onions driven from Georgia to Washington and we presented 10-pound boxes to all 100 Senate offices. Georgia’s Vidalia onions are second to none, and Senator Chambliss and I are delighted to treat the folks on Capitol Hill to the best-tasting, sweetest onions in the world. 

The onions came from Bland Farms in Reidsville, Ga., where Raymond and Delbert Bland have been in the business of growing Vidalia onions for three decades. The Bland family is one of the largest growers, packers and shippers of Vidalia onions in the nation.  Delbert Bland and Reidsville resident John Conley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Georgia Peace Officers Association, drove the onions from Georgia to Washington.

Attached to each bag of onions was Senator and Mrs. Isakson’s recipe for Vidalia Onion Soup as well as Stockbridge, Ga., resident Doris Wallace’s recipe for Vidalia onion sausage casserole. Mrs. Wallace is the mother of Toni Brown, Isakson’s state liaison. Also included were recipes for Vidalia Onion Dip and Vidalia Onion Pie from Senator and Mrs. Chambliss.

The history of Vidalia Sweet Onions dates back to 1931, when Vidalia farmer Moses Coleman planted onions that proved to be unexpectedly sweet. For many in the southeast Georgia area, this discovery was a major boost that helped sustain their farms during the Depression. Today, Vidalia Sweet Onions are grown on more than 12,000 acres in the fertile soil of 20 southeast Georgia counties. They’re naturally delicious “as is,” or as the secret ingredient in many dishes – from salads, omelets and casseroles to soups, stews and stir-fries.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Next week, the Senate will begin debate on energy legislation. 

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson